INEC Warns Parties: Primaries Held After May 30 Deadline Remain Invalid

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties that any primary election conducted after its May 30, 2026 deadline remains invalid unless an appellate court overturns an earlier Federal High Court judgment currently under challenge.

The clarification was made by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, , amid growing uncertainty over the legal status of party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the commission’s timetable, Haruna said political parties are expected to continue complying with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 pending the outcome of INEC’s appeal before the Court of Appeal.

“Any primary election conducted outside INEC’s May 30 deadline will remain invalid unless the Court of Appeal overturns the Federal High Court judgment. Political parties are therefore advised to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act and the commission’s existing timetable,” he said.

The legal dispute stems from a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit filed by the against INEC.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, the court nullified portions of INEC’s timetable and electoral guidelines for the 2027 general election, ruling that the commission lacked the authority to shorten timelines prescribed under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership registers and candidates’ particulars.

Justice Umar held that while INEC has powers to regulate electoral activities, it cannot abridge timelines specifically provided by law, describing such action as exceeding its statutory authority.

Following the ruling, INEC filed an appeal and sought a stay of execution, maintaining that its timetable was issued in accordance with its constitutional and statutory responsibilities.

Before the court judgment, the commission had fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the period within which political parties were required to conduct their primaries and submit candidates for the 2027 elections.

In a related development, another Federal High Court judge, Justice James Omotosho, upheld INEC’s constitutional powers to issue and amend election timetables.

Delivering judgment in a separate suit instituted by the , Justice Omotosho affirmed that INEC possesses the authority to determine election schedules but stressed that such powers must be exercised within the limits prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026.

Meanwhile, the primary election appeals committee of the in Kaduna State has ordered rerun primaries in several federal and state constituencies following complaints of irregularities during the party’s nomination process.

Chairman of the committee, Dr. Muhammed Fagge, said investigations revealed procedural breaches, omission of aspirants from ballot papers, and cases where there was insufficient evidence that voting actually took place.

As a result, the committee declared several primaries inconclusive and directed fresh elections in affected constituencies, including Ikara/Kubau and Kaduna South Federal Constituencies.

According to Fagge, rerun primaries will also be conducted in several wards and constituencies across Kaduna State to ensure transparency and fairness in the party’s candidate selection process.

He further ruled that any attempt to adopt consensus or affirmation candidates in the Kaduna North Senatorial District would be invalid unless all stakeholders consented to the arrangement.

The latest clarification by INEC underscores the uncertainty facing political parties as the legal battle over electoral timelines continues, with the outcome of the appeal expected to significantly shape preparations for the 2027 general elections.